Finland is the most forest covered country in Europe

Forests cover more than 70 per cent of the land area of Finland. Measured by the proportional share of forest land, Finland is the most forested country in Europe. A total of 20.3 million hectares is available for wood production, 61 per cent of this is privately owned.

In the past decades the amount of wood harvested has been clearly below the growth, which means that the wood resources keep growing. Today they are about 2,300 million cubic metres. Finland has the fifth largest wood resources in Europe, after Russia, France, Sweden and Germany.

Forests are a renewable natural resource - a source of both economic and spiritual welfare. Forest is one of the dominating elements of Finnish nature and its diversity. 2.9 millon hectares of the Finnish forests are protected or under restricted use, which represents 13 % of the forest area. This is the highest share in Europe. By a wise combination of utilisation and protection, healthy and diverse forests will be preserved for future generations as well. Forests contribute to the mitigation of climate change by sequestering carbon, but climate change also involves various new risks for forests.

Related links

The International
Day of Forests is celebrated on 21 March. This impressive video by FAO shows
the important role of forests, as climate change is subjecting our planet to
unsustainable pressures. Forests and trees trap and store carbon as they grow –
standing at the frontline against climate change.